Downtown cafe on a mission to end youth homelessness
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A group of nonprofits has teamed up to address San Diego’s homeless crisis, one slice of pizza at a time.
Timmy’s Place is helping kids find a more meaningful pathway in life.
Jasmine Sungahid serves up pizza and coffee at the downtown cafe. She says it has given her a sense of belonging and purpose.
“Throughout my whole life, experiencing unstable housing and homelessness,” Sungahid said to FOX 5/KUSI. “This is my first place of employment. Honestly, it’s really hard to think of anything about a future outside of, I need to find a way out of this situation by any means necessary.”
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Sungahid, her mom and brother used to live out their car, which would often break down. They eventually ended up on the street in 2022.
“It was really difficult,” she said. “It made me have to jump schools a lot. I never really felt settled in anywhere at all.”
That changed when she connected with Urban Street Angels. The nonprofit runs a youth homeless center in the same building as the pizzeria. Sungahid is living there while she works at Timmy’s Place.
“In one word how I describe Timmy’s Place is hope,” said Drew Moser, executive director of the Lucky Duck Foundation, which helped create the cafe.
“These are kids some of them that are coming off the streets, they’re looking for employment and it’s a chance to go to work right away. Other kids, they’re staying in transitional housing and they need a reset and a launching pad,” said Moser.
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Timmy’s Place opened last may. Moser says so far, the program has employed over 30 youth.
The cafe also doubles as a print shop. Youth can create custom-made T-shirts, tote bags, mugs and more.
“Giving kids hope for a better future and an opportunity to go out and do some really impactful things in their lives, but learn the basics here — everything from employment, life skills, punctuality, working in a fast-paced environment and so much more,” Moser said.
Sungahid has worked at the cafe since it opened. She’s now the assistant manager.
“I did have hope and this place really pushed that further,” she said. “It’s really fulfilling, and I’m really grateful for the position. I’ve learned a lot of amazing skills and networked with people I never thought I’d have a chance to.”
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Beyond being an expert barista, Sungahid has even bigger dreams.
“I’m trying to get my mechanics certification to be able to fix up cars,” she said. “My biggest motivation for that is growing up, the cars that we had to live out of sometimes would break down and cause more financial issues for us.”
She’s grateful for the opportunity to stretch into who she is and who she hopes to become.
“Because there’s a lot of potential with me,” said Sungahid.
Timmy’s Place is located at 1404 Fifth Ave. The cafe is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Every purchase helps the mission.
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